Nato foreign ministers meeting in Brussels have agreed to step up their military and economic assistance to Afghanistan, officials have said. The decision came as the US pledged an extra $10.6bn (£5.4bn) to bolster its Afghan effort and retain troops there. On the even of the meeting, the US made it clear it expected other Nato members to bolster their commitment too. Nato's top commander meanwhile has said his forces will mount a spring offensive against the Taleban. Officials from the alliance have warned they expect Taleban fighters in Afghanistan to intensify attacks when the weather begins to warm up. Separately, Nato said it may have killed a "senior Taleban leader and his deputies" in southern Helmand province. 'Increased pledges' The BBC's Rob Watson in Brussels says the announcement of the new US aid package for Afghanistan was clearly intended to challenge Nato's European members to do more as well.... http://news.bbc.co.uk

The Defense Department is giving away free equipment the military no longer needs to state and local police: fatigues for secret surveillance of drug labs in Indiana, a tranquilizer gun to shoot bears in Pennsylvania and a doublewide trailer in Virginia. Cash-strapped law enforcement agencies are lining up to take advantage of the Pentagon's generosity. About 16,000 departments obtained more than 380,000 pieces of equipment in the 2005 budget year, according to an analysis of data provided by the Pentagon at the request of The Associated Press. The items, which include night-vision goggles, copy machines, helicopters and bulletproof vests, were worth nearly $124 million. Authorities in Bucks County, Pa., just outside Philadelphia, turned to the Pentagon for two hand-me-down armored vehicles to protect officers in hostage standoffs. The total savings to local taxpayers: more than $70,000 a piece. The top recipients nationwide are:...http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-01-26-militarygiveaways_x.htm?csp=34

A bomb detonated at a Baghdad pet market has killed at least 15 people and injured 35 others, police say. The blast ripped through the Ghazil market in the city centre, a popular destination which sells dogs, cats, birds and other animals. Baghdad's markets are now a regular target for bombers aiming to kill and maim high numbers of civilians. Officials said a large bomb on Thursday killed 40 people and injured 80 in a central shopping district. Along with exotic animals such as snakes and parrots, the market also sells domestic animals such as goats and sheep. The Associated Press reported that a man carrying an egg carton apparently full of pigeons for sale arrived at the market and left his goods as he went to buy a drink. The box then exploded as curious buyers gathered around to look inside, a witness said...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6301129.stm

Four people have died in new violence in Gaza between the rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah. One Fatah member was killed when Hamas militants surrounded a building, and a Hamas supporter was also shot dead. There were clashes overnight as a Hamas member died in what the group said was a roadside bomb attack on a convoy. The clashes come as Hamas supporters gathered to mark a year since victory in Palestinian elections, and after a period of relative calm. Hamas, which runs the Palestinian Authority, said whoever carried out the overnight bombing would be hunted down. Hours later, a Fatah member was killed in an attack at his home. Fatah described his killing as an execution but Hamas said he died in a gun battle. The latest attacks follow a recent period of factional fighting in which more than 30 people were killed. ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6301763.stm

The Bush administration has authorized the U.S. military to kill or capture Iranian operatives inside Iraq as part of an aggressive new strategy to weaken Tehran's influence across the Middle East and compel it to give up its nuclear program, according to government and counterterrorism officials with direct knowledge of the effort. For more than a year, U.S. forces in Iraq have secretly detained dozens of suspected Iranian agents, holding them for three to four days at a time. The "catch and release" policy was designed to avoid escalating tensions with Iran and yet intimidate its emissaries. U.S. forces collected DNA samples from some of the Iranians without their knowledge, subjected others to retina scans, and fingerprinted and photographed all of them before letting them go. Last summer, however, senior administration officials decided that a more confrontational approach was necessary, as Iran's regional influence grew and U.S. efforts to isolate Tehran appeared to be failing. ...http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/25/AR2007012502199.html

Dramatic footage of mostly Shi'a Iraqi soldiers delivering a "brutal beating" to several local Sunnis has been obtained by a British public-service television station. US soldiers assigned to train the Iraqi troops look on as the Iraqi soldiers push the beaten men into the rear compartment of an armored vehicle. "It is a shocking insight into the sectarian violence that is tearing Baghdad apart," Jonathan Miller reports for Channel Four. "Two journalists – embedded with the First Cavalry division – witnessed suspected insurgents being viciously beaten and abused." According to Channel Four, American troops then threatened the journalists and held them under armed guard while attempting to "seize their footage." "US Army commander Lieutenant Colonel Dale C. Kuehl told Channel 4 News he had taken administrative action to include suspending the platoon sergeant," Channel Four reports. A clip from Channel Four's report can be watched below:...http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Video_Shia_Iraqi_soldiers_beat_Sunnis_0125.html